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NATOSource

May 30, 2012

U.S. Plans to Arm Italy’s Drones

By Adam Entous, the Wall Street Journal

From Adam Entous, the Wall Street Journal:  The Obama administration plans to arm Italy’s fleet of Reaper drone aircraft, a move that could open the door for sales of advanced hunter-killer drone technology to other allies, according to lawmakers and others familiar with the matter.

Drones Technology & Innovation

New Atlanticist

May 30, 2012

Expert Offers Calming Words on Iran Nuclear Program

By Barbara Slavin

In the wake of last week’s nuclear talks in Baghdad, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday blasted the process as a waste of time that is allowing Iran to get closer to nuclear weapons.

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

May 30, 2012

Putin’s Management of Russia’s Governors Reveals Regional Fractures, Fear of Losing Power

By Thomas Liles

Since embarking on his third term as Russia’s president on May 7, Vladimir Putin has pushed the issue of gubernatorial elections to the forefront of his agenda. In contrast to his predecessor Dmitry Medvedev, who made several symbolic concessions to the country’s pro-democracy opposition, Putin has taken a decidedly more “managerial” approach which, unsurprisingly, contradicts […]

Russia

NATOSource

May 30, 2012

NATO: Death by a thousand little spending cuts?

By Luiza Ch. Savage, Macleans

From Luiza Ch. Savage, Macleans:  It has been almost a year since former U.S. defense secretary Robert Gates, who served both Bush and Obama, focused his final speech on blasting NATO allies who are “apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources to be serious and capable partners in their own defence.

United States and Canada

MENASource

May 30, 2012

Top News: Brotherhood Communicating with ElBaradei on Possible Leadership of Coalition Government

By Mara Revkin

Sources close to the Muslim Brotherhood confirm communication between Mohammed Morsi and founder of the al-Dostour Party Mohamed El-Baradei in an effort to coordinate activities for the presidential elections and afterwards. The Morsi campaign denied any official offer for El-Braradei to lead a coalition government in exchange for his support in the runoff elections.

New Atlanticist

May 30, 2012

The Mother of All (Fiscal) Tsunamis

By Harlan Ullman

Imagine you are aboard a palatial huge cruise ship — longer than three football fields and more than 100,000 tons in displacement. You are in the Atlantic. You receive an urgent text message. A giant tidal wave is headed in your direction and will hit the ship in about 2 hours. A satellite photo of […]

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

NATOSource

May 29, 2012

US Ambassador to Russia once again faces Moscow’s scorn

By Nikolaus von Twickel, the Moscow Times

From Nikolaus von Twickel, the Moscow Times: U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul found himself in hot water once again Tuesday, facing heavy criticism from the Kremlin and the Foreign Ministry over comments he made last week suggesting that Russia had “bribed” officials in Kyrgyzstan to pressure them to close a base used by U.S. forces.

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

May 29, 2012

NATO’s Biggest Security Threat Is Now Economic

By Frederick Kempe

As measured from President Obama’s re-election campaign perspective – the White House’s litmus test for foreign policy issues through November – last weekend’s G-8 and NATO Summits were bell ringers. Obama campaign strategists couldn’t have scripted their outcomes better – perhaps because they did script them. Given the potential for dissent, President Obama could be […]

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

May 29, 2012

NATO’s not very lofty summit

By Stephen M. Walt, Foreign Policy

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

May 29, 2012

US Devises ‘Influence Games’ for Working with Syria, Levant

By Barbara Slavin

When is a war game not a war game? When it is a “competitive influence” game. For three days earlier this month (May 15-17), more than 100 people met in Annapolis, Md. to brainstorm about devising such an exercise. The actual game is to be played this summer at an air base in Florida. If […]

Syria